Cyclones Gymnastics • Ames, Iowa
"This is bigger than any single program. This is bigger than any single season. This is about creating a legacy that transforms women's collegiate athletics."
February 2026
On February 8, 2026, Iowa State University announced the cancellation of the remainder of its women's gymnastics season. The decision came down to one thing: the health and safety of the student-athletes who represent the Cyclones.
"The health, safety and overall welfare of our student-athletes is paramount, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they are able to safely train and compete at the highest level."
– Shamaree Brown, Senior Associate AD for Student Services, Iowa State University
With five meets remaining before the Big 12 Championships, Iowa State made the call to cancel the remainder of the season. Our hearts go out to the student-athletes who dedicated themselves to this program and who deserve every opportunity to compete at the highest level.
This is a moment that demands our collective support, our advocacy, and our commitment to the future of this program. This is not the end of Cyclone gymnastics. Once a Cyclone, Always a Cyclone.
Why This Matters
Women's collegiate gymnastics is the female equivalent of football on the male side. The pageantry is phenomenal. The energy in a packed arena is electric. The fan experience is unlike anything else in women's athletics. And with Olympic women's gymnastics as the number one most-watched sport globally during the Games, the upside for the collegiate game is enormous.
But this sport doesn't reach its full potential when programs struggle. A program that succeeds and then lifts others creates momentum that benefits everyone. That's not just a talking point. It's the foundation of everything the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association stands for.
Right now, it's our turn to rally around the Cyclones, their student-athletes, and everyone who has given everything to this program. We support them. We stand behind their future. And we make sure they come back stronger, better resourced, and ready to compete at the highest level.
By The Numbers
This isn't a blip. This is a movement backed by record-breaking data at every level. And it's accelerating every single year.
"There are two sports I have come across in my career at ESPN that I believe have unlimited potential: gymnastics and softball."
– Meg Aronowitz, Vice President of Production, ESPN
The WCGA Way
Gymnastics provides the foundation for developing daring, strong, and confident women. The impact extends far beyond the competition floor. This is what we're protecting. This is what we're building.
The Path Forward
This is a temporary chapter in a long and proud Cyclone gymnastics story. Programs across the country have faced difficult moments and emerged stronger because the people around them believed in the mission and invested in the future.
The Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association and the Collegiate Gymnastics Growth Initiative stand firmly alongside Iowa State's administration, coaching staff, and student-athletes. We believe in this program. We believe in this sport. And we believe that when Iowa State returns to the competition floor, the Cyclones and the Hilton Coliseum crowd will remind everyone why women's collegiate gymnastics is the most electrifying experience in women's athletics.
The world is watching. The opportunity is here. The time is now.
"Iowa State Gymnastics has been the cornerstone of character, growth, and pride for myself and for all those who came before and after me. Being part of Iowa State Gymnastics means being part of something far bigger than oneself. Wearing the Cardinal and Gold was a privilege I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
The moments in the locker room, competing in Hilton Coliseum, and everything in between created a bond that connects us all as a family. Being a Cyclone athlete and coach shaped me in more ways than I could have ever imagined. The pride, loyalty, life lessons, and discipline instilled through this program laid a foundation not only for me, but for so many others as well.
I am forever grateful and honored to be a Cyclone Gymnast. Loyal. Forever. True."
– Haylee Young, Class of 2018, Assistant Coach 2021-2025
Join the Movement
Share your support publicly. Post or repost #StandWithStateGymnastics and #cyclonenation on your social media. Show the Cyclones, their families, and the athletics administration that the gymnastics community stands united behind this program.
Let the administration know you believe in this program's future. Send an email, make a call, or reach out through the athletics website. Your voice matters. Decision-makers need to hear that Iowa State Gymnastics has a passionate, invested community ready to support its return.
Share this page. Talk about Iowa State Gymnastics. Attend meets at other programs. Advocate for women's gymnastics at your own institution. The sport grows stronger when every program succeeds, and every voice amplifies the movement.
#StandWithStateGymnastics
Once a Cyclone, Always a Cyclone.
This page is presented by the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA), the national advocacy association for NCAA women's gymnastics, and the Collegiate Gymnastics Growth Initiative (CGGI), the strategic arm working to expand resources, media exposure, and competitive opportunities across the sport.
Together, we believe that when one program thrives, the entire sport benefits. When one program faces adversity, we all rally behind it. This is bigger than any single season. This is about building the premier women's collegiate sport.